Final Product

Step 1: Plan

Step 2: Make Proper, Precise Diagrams

I used Desmos for the grid here to keep my nodes in perfect pi layout. However, I did not consider that this would mean finding the equations to plot 80+ line segments instead of being able to just draw them. It worked out in the end- most of the slopes and intercepts were simple numbers, given the nodes all lay on nice integer coordinates. It was the intersection points for the bounds of the equations that got complicated.

If there is a program out there that allows you to move your own nodes around on a grid overlay and then generate the corresponding Voronoi and/or Delaunay diagrams automatically, I have not found it yet. 

Step 3: Laser Cut

I used Illustrator to turn my Desmos images into vector files to send to the laser cutter.

Then I did two test cuts of the Voronoi layer on chipboard- the first did not cut properly, but the second did. I put it together to look for any issues with fit, and then laser cut the final Voronoi layers for the lantern out of plywood.

My second file was the Delaunay triangulation. This was cut separate from any structural elements, on its own as a sort of web-like piece that I then could glue on top of its corresponding Voronoi pattern. I cut this out of teal acrylic for contrast and used hot glue to attach.

Step 4: Code the Lighting

I wanted a flickering candle look for the arduino inside the lantern. I started with some base code from the color_sense file I used for lab to import the correct libraries and set up the neopixels.

I set 3 colors from yellow to reddish-orange and had the program loop:

• randomly pick a color

• set all the pixels to that color

• display the color

• wait a random amount of time (around half a second)

I did a lot of slight tweaking of the colors and the delay times, but eventually got it looking somewhat candle-like behind paper in the lantern.

Design Process Video